Crowded, by Christopher Sebela, Ted Brandt, Ro Stein and Triona Farrell will feature a fictional app called Reaper that allows anyone to crowd fund assassination attempts. The protagonist, Charlie Ellison, will face down waves of hit men with his less than perfect bodyguard. This series will be out this summer.

Annie Wu introduced her new book Dead Guy Fan Club. This story will follow fans of a fallen rock star into adulthood as they investigate the death of their idol. This sounds interesting and would make for a god show in the same vein as TBS’s Search Party. You can grab your copy this fall.

Sam Humphries (Nightwing & Green Lantern) and Jen Bartel have teamed up to create Blackbird, a fantasy story that Image depicts as HarryPotter meets Riverdale. This series will be released from Image Comics in October 2018.

Image will be releasing J. H. Williams and Haden Blackman’s Echolandslater this year. It tells the story of a young thief who must escape a vengeful wizard in order to save a world that has forgotten its own history.

The Last Siege is a medieval war story told in the style of a spaghetti western. Landry Q. Walker and Justin Greenwood bring this series to life this summer. Greenwood said, “I’d been looking for a book to really cut loose on and this project came along at the perfect time. I haven’t drawn this much dirt and blood in a long time and loving every minute of it.”

Image Comics has a plethora of new and old titles coming out this year. Look out for a sequel to this list. Catch you next time.

]]>http://talknerdywithus.com/2018/03/06/image-comics-has-new-comics-for-2018/feed/076496Advance Review: Image Comic’s “Twisted Romance” Issue 3http://talknerdywithus.com/2018/02/01/advance-review-image-comics-twisted-romance-issue-3/
http://talknerdywithus.com/2018/02/01/advance-review-image-comics-twisted-romance-issue-3/#respondThu, 01 Feb 2018 20:38:00 +0000http://talknerdywithus.com/?p=75803Image Comics has been on a roll recently. The third issue of their Twisted Romance series is just as impressive as the previous two issues. The featured love stories in this issue are a bit more whimsical and somber than the last six stories.

First up is Invincible Heart by Alex De Campi and Carla Speed McNeil. De Campi does it again, bringing us a love story between a space captain and the rebel leader of the ground forces. McNeil’s artwork is refreshing for a black and white piece. It makes you focus more on what’s happening in each scene of this homoerotic thrill.

At first glance, this seems like a knockoff of any number of SyFy original movies, but De Campi sweeps us into a meeting of the minds with Justin and Black. This is a classic government versus the people argument. Justin has his orders, though the enigmatic Black is all he can think about. So what do you do when you start to fall in love with someone you’ve been charged with executing? You guys will have to pick up your copy to find out.

The prose story in this volume is The Last Minute by Jess Bradley. This story boasts all of the feels of a doomed love with all of the suspense of an alien invasion. Bradley presents Naomi Hansen and Daniel Cline in the first few paragraphs climbing an impenetrable tower. We later find out that these two have been preparing for months in order to stop alien creatures from continuing to ravage the planet.

Naomi’s determination to make a last stand has led Daniel to open his heart, even with their possible demise looming in the distance. Bradley delivers a romantic tale that’s sure to hit you right when you least expect it.

Olivia Lies, Pierced by Margaret Trauth is the second comic and last story in this volume. Trauth presents the Staisbridge Academy of Diplomacy, where all manner of anthropomorphized animals take lessons for combat and noble peacekeeping. Think Zootopia in space. Trauth shows Olivia Featherstone, a feline troublemaker and her friend Baron K, a mouse and heir to a space dynasty. These two get up to much mischief while discovering what they really mean to each other.

These stories are more lighthearted than we’ve seen in the previous issues; even the impending doom in The Last Minute. Image Comics has one more issue left in this series. I wonder what stories we’ll see in the finale.

You can purchase the digital edition from Amazon or subscribe to the print editions at Image Comics.

]]>http://talknerdywithus.com/2018/02/01/advance-review-image-comics-twisted-romance-issue-3/feed/075803Advance Review: Image Comic’s “Twisted Romance” Issue 2http://talknerdywithus.com/2018/01/30/advance-review-image-comics-twisted-romance-issue-2/
http://talknerdywithus.com/2018/01/30/advance-review-image-comics-twisted-romance-issue-2/#respondTue, 30 Jan 2018 23:11:49 +0000http://talknerdywithus.com/?p=75731Have you missed me guys? Aww, that’s so sweet (please, God, let it be sweet). But we have business to attend to. I’m talking about Image Comic’s second issue of Twisted Romance. Just like the first issue, there are two comic stories and one narrative fiction piece.

The first comic is Twinkle & The Star, by Alex De Campi and Alejandra Gutiérrez. It features a burgeoning romance between an asexual celebrity and an overly conscious, full-figured woman. This is the type of love story you haven’t seen outside of fan fiction, but it’s certainly one that should be told. Representation is important, especially in mainstream media.

Gutiérrez’s art and De Campi’s dialogue-style make for a cute introduction to characters that aren’t always at the forefront of what audiences consume. This story should definitely continue.

Vita Ayala concentrates her efforts on love in the fiction piece, Back at Your Door. It features college student, Luz Lopez, and her intense crushes on fellow students Adrienne and Maddison. Luz has mixed feelings about her platonic relationships, but realizes some friendships should not cross that forbidden line. Or…maybe everything is in her head and she can have all she is looking for in a partner (or partners). No spoilers from me, you guys are going to have to read this one on your own.

The last comic is by Meredith McClaren entitled, Would You Even Know It? A nameless woman and her AI laptop have a discussion about the nature of love and whether it’s possible for the two of them to actually be “in love” with each other. I like that McClaren keeps both characters nameless. It makes you guess who is the true human. Or if it’s even humane to treat an artificial intelligence like a person.

We see a woman and a laptop, but neither of them operates under normal conditions for a laptop or a woman. Then again that view may come from my own bias, which I now realize may be McClaren’s point. The lines of attachment and romantic love are blurred as the woman and her laptop define her biological nature and the mechanics of the laptop. Each one coexists and co-depends on the other, but can there ever really be more?

What do you guys think?

You can purchase the digital edition from Amazon or subscribe to the print editions at Image Comics.

Hey guys! Welcome back to my comic review shop, where I take on all manner of image-induced shenanigans. This week I’ll be looking at the four-issue release of Twisted Romance by Image Comics. Each issue features three stories for a total twelve, count ‘em, twelve tales of romance from the everyday to the supernatural.

The mix of comic and narrative is enough to satiate comic lovers and literary chasers. I loved reading each story, and I wish each one would continue. I’m definitely going to follow these creators from now on.

The first issue featured a comic called OldFlames by Katie Skelly and Alex De Campi. It is a story of deception and intrigue in the guise of 70s-style pop art. Skelly’s artwork evoked the time period exceptionally well. I say this with confidence, even though I was born in 1988.

De Campi weaves the tale of Misha, a vampire on the straight and narrow, whose business is heartbreak. He takes a job that leads him to a violent, former love, something he doesn’t need as it’s hard enough to be a vampire who doesn’t indulge in violence. The emotional turmoil he feels is evident throughout his sexual exploits. But come on, it’s the 70s. Who isn’t sexually free?

I would love to see Misha’s backstory and how he became the semi-strait-laced vampire who breaks people up for a living. This would make for great Netflix show. What do you guys think?

Twisted Romance #1

The second story is a narrative tale of vampires, wendigos and the humans who hunt them. Magen Cubed delivers a fantastic and gripping story of one-sided homoerotic love in Leather & Lace.

Brooding and depressed vampire, Dorian, fights other supernatural creatures at night with his partner, and secret crush, Cash Leroy. Magen gives these two heartthrobs the royal “will they, won’t they?” treatment. She then adds in a mix of danger on the supernatural hunting fields to bring forth a sweet love story.

Red Medusa on the Road to Hell

The final story in this anthology comes from Sarah Horrocks. In Red Medusa on the Road to Hell, two lovers are reunited in Hell of all places. This story produced my favorite line, “The dreams of the body obscure the memories of the spirit, but I remember your skin.”

The tragic lovers are hauntingly inspiring. Sarah’s art conjures a visceral reaction. Images of blood and Hell evoke, what I imagine to be, the nightmares of victims of demonic possession. The story and images are insanely difficult to look at, yet they’re so compelling in their truthful depiction of the love these two people share in an abyss of torture.

There is a depth in the darkness that oozes complex creativity on the part of Sarah Horrocks.

Image Comics has made me a fan today. But let’s hear from you guys. Whose got the most twisted romance story?

You can purchase the digital edition from Amazon or subscribe to the print editions at Image Comics.

The story centers on Yoon Bum, a young South Korean man with an unhealthy obsession for the popular Sangwoo. Bum takes his obsessive compulsion to the next level by breaking into Sangwoo’s house. What he finds is disturbing and earth shattering. When they said “never meet your idols,” they weren’t kidding. Sangwoo takes this opportunity to take Bum captive and teach him a lesson about disrupting a crime already in progress. The relationship that develops between the two is sparked by trauma and tragedy. This develops through violence, sex, and mental instability.

As a reader, I want desperately for Yoon Bum to make an escape, but his borderline personality disorder disrupts his vision of Sangwoo. It doesn’t help that Sangwoo alternates his behavior from violent to affectionate, or the fact that while they both served in the military, Sangwoo saved Bum from being raped. Koogi paints the harsh realities of military life that get swept under the rug in the name of national pride and national defense. It is important to see all sides in this story.

Bum sees a shining light in Sangwoo, though the latter is dealing with his own issues of past abuse and the uncanny resemblance Sangwoo says Bum has of his mother. This reveal is obviously the only thing that is keeping Bum alive. Sangwoo looks at Bum and sees his mother. He even makes Bum dress in a skirt and forces him to do chores around the house, thereby forcing Bum into a role of affection.

Bum acquiesces out of fear and love. Sangwoo has beaten him and followed up those actions with a kiss (many kisses), not to mention other activities as well (Like I said, this is a mature Boys Love comic). Sangwoo gives Bum what he wants, but keeps him locked against his will and punishes him when he steps out of line.

This comic is not for the faint of heart, nor the very squeamish. The frames drawn by Koogi are disturbingly realistic with anguish, pain and depression reading on both of our protagonist’s faces. It almost feels like love and sincerity are actually blooming between the two, but with their many problems it is hard to discern if tragedies will continue.

I enjoyed this story and recommend it to those of you who can handle it. Accounts can be set up for free at www.Lezhin.com. The subscription based website has many comics for all types of readers. I’ll be diving into some action comics next.

Scratch board artist, Holly Hughes, creates such dead-on portraits that they’ll stop you in your tracks. Literally. In fact, it was this portrait of Jon Snow that first got my attention at Denver Comic Con. Once I saw she was using a medium I’d only ever associated with children’s art projects my mind was completely blown and my awe twice as great. Thankfully I had the chance to talk to Holly about her art, her service and her fandoms.

First, I just want to say I’m in awe of your talent and I love that you use such an unusual medium. You mentioned that were in the service and found using scratch boards relaxing. Can you tell us a little about that?

Thank you so much! I’m currently serving in the United States Air Force and work 12+ hour missions. It can be really stressful sometimes (not to mention exhausting), but coming home and working on a project always takes my mind somewhere else and helps me leave that intense mindset that comes with my type of job. Art really has been an escape for me, as well as a way to express the feelings that I can’t always talk about or explain.

Thank you for your service and I’m glad you have found your art to be so cathartic. When did you first start dabbling ? And how did you come to settle on such a unique method?

Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to do something pertaining to art (either that, or be a super hero that magically talks to animals….). I’ve been drawing for fun for as long as I can remember, but didn’t come across scratch art until I was in high school. While everyone else hated it, I definitely loved the challenge of working with such an unforgiving medium that required a lot of attention to detail. It wasn’t until many years later that I saw scratchboards for sale in the art stores and stocked up on them for my overseas assignment in the Air Force. It gave me something to look forward to at the end of a long and stressful day, and something to keep my busy during the weekends instead of thinking about how homesick I was. Learning this new art form truly was a blessing.

Does it have any particular challenges compared to other art forms?

YES! When I said it was “unforgiving” I absolutely meant it. Since it’s not typical paper or canvas, you can’t draw on it in pencil or pen to get your ideas sketched out. You also can’t erase… at all. So if you make a mistake, you either move on, throw it away, or make something out of your mistake. I actually have stacks of artwork in my studio that I’m still trying to figure out how to fix. It’s also challenging because you’re “working backwards.” With a normal drawing, you have white paper and a pencil. You use your pencil to add shadows and lines, while using the white of the paper to act as your light-source. For me, I’m adding the light-source instead of drawing shadows. I have to think of everything in reverse, and I think that’s what I love about it. Most folks have sudoku or brain teasers, but this is what gets me thinking and gives my mind and creativity exercise. It’s also a challenge working with the tools needed to “scratch away” the top layer of black on the board to reveal the white. I have a collection of little knives, razor blades, and even tools from my husbands garage that give me all kinds of textures to help me make an interesting piece. Oh, and did I mention that it takes me over 20-70 hours to do all this?

Holy Batman! I had no idea. The end result is worth it for your fans. Do you do other art forms?

I enjoy sketching in my notebook and am slowly but surely learning digital painting. I’m struggling with wrapping my mind around “layers” in photoshop and usually make stupid mistakes that take far too long to fix. I also recently got an offer to take up a tattoo apprenticeship to share my style of work with some amazing fans and other artists.

That’s so cool. Let me know when you’re ready to do some ink! What other artists inspire you or are you a fan of?

I am actually a huge fan of the old masters like Da Vinci and Michelangelo. It blows my mind how they created such incredible works of art with such limited resources and technology. To this day I get choked up when I stare at their masterpieces. There is something spiritually and emotionally moving about it, and it inspires me to want to stir the same feelings in people with my own artwork. My other big inspiration is Stan Lee. Not just because of the Marvel empire he built, but of his own struggles as a person that he learned to overcome. I read a quote about how he once felt that he was silly for drawing super heroes while other people were out there doing “grown up jobs” and saving lives. But then he realized that he does save lives in his own way. Entertaining people and making them smile helps people just as much as any hero. I felt this way for the longest time and wondered if me wanting to be an artist was “a real job” or if I should grow up and do something else. But being an artist is something that truly makes me wake up in the morning and want to create something. Wanting to share that feeling with others is truly what drives me.

I believe art, in all its forms, is healing and inspiring. Without it, we’d be lost. I’m happy you stuck with your path. Speaking of Stan Lee and comics, how long have you been doing comic/pop culture conventions?

I went to my first convention in 2014 in Richmond, VA. I got an email on my etsy shop from one of the creative directors at Wizard World Comic Conventions. He really encouraged me to sign up for artist alley and promote my artwork, regardless if I made any money or not. Of course I was pretty darn scared and didn’t think my work was good enough to be on display or that anyone would even want to buy it. Wizard World Richmond ended up being one of my best shows to date! I sold almost all my original pieces and was told by some artists who worked for Disney that this definitely needed to be my full time career. So it was definitely a confidence boost to say the least and got me started on my convention journey.

What’s the best, worst or weirdest experience you’ve had at a con?

That’s tough… the best experience would have to be meeting voice actor Christopher Sabat at Megacon in 2016 (I promise it has nothing to do with the massive crush I have on him). He was so nice and took the time to flip through my entire portfolio and gave his opinion on every single piece. As I was leaving, he yelled after me in one of my favorite character voices, “You draw me really pretty!” I was so red and trying not to fangirl that I walked right into a wall. As for worst and weirdest…. I can’t tell you how many times I run into someone who hasn’t quite grasped the idea of personal space or hygiene and wants me to make them a very detailed piece of artwork of their fetish or fantasy. One guy asked for a very twisted image of him and Alice from Alice in Wonderland. I had to politely tell him that “it’s a no from me.”

Yikes! That is what you call awk-waaaard. On the plus side, have you’ve met any other celebrities you’ve drawn? What was your favorite encounter? Or who would you die to meet?m

I have been incredibly blessed to meet and even work with cast members from Dragon Ball Z, One Punch Man, Sailor Moon, Attack on Titan and several others. I’ve definitely met a whole lot of voice actors and would really like to meet the cast of the Avengers next. I’m getting nervous just thinking about it. I think meeting Chris Pratt would be the ultimate experience. He liked my artwork of Star Lord on Instagram and I nearly lost my mind. But my favorite encounter will have to go to the time that I met Stan Lee for only a split second. He signed my Spider-man and Mary Jane artwork and said, “Oh wow, this is a really unique style,” then had to continue on his way. I have that autograph right next to my drawing table.

That’s incredible! Where can fans find your work and can they purchase it? Also, do you take commission work?

My facebook group is the best way to reach me. I sell poster prints as well as originals left in stock. I also work on commissions for people and can be contacted at scerdyboards@yahoo.com.

How do you keep fans apprised of your upcoming events so they may meet you in person?

I have a steady following in Instagram and my scerdyboards facebook group. That’s where I post about upcoming shows, current projects and where I get to hear what the followers want to see. It’s always so humbling to meet my followers in person!

Lastly, we at Talk Nerdy With Us celebrate all things geek, as a con-goer you’ve certainly witnessed fandom up close and personal. What do you nerd out about?

I nerd about so much it’s ridiculous. If you ever get the opportunity to enter my art studio, you’ll get a little taste of what I’m talking about. My walls are literally covered in shelves of figurines, artwork and treasures from all my shows. I’m also a Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon super fan and enjoy gaming in my free time. I’m not sure how many times I’ve driven my husband mad from binge watching the entire anime series from the 90’s or played my xbox for nights on end. He even bought me a 72″ tv because he knows how much I love it. I’m HUGE into the Assassin’s Creed series and attribute AC2 to my obsession.

Holly, thank you so much for sharing a little bit about yourself with us. I was thrilled to discover your work and I know others will be too.

Talk Nerdy With Us met JSalvador at Denver Comic Con where fans were flocked around his SuperEmoFriends table. We were so enamored with his tragic/comic take on pop culture characters that we asked to follow up with him later. Happily, he agreed and we’re pleased to share this unique and inspiring artist’s story about how he turned a bout of depression into something beautiful and productive, which he considers the best medicine of all.

When did you first start dabbling in art? And what is your preferred medium?

Hi thanks for asking me to talk nerdy with you guys! This is awesome.

Well, I’ve been drawing since I can remember. I have drawings of zombies and grim reapers from when I was five years old! I was ‘the artist’ at every school I attended and was drawing and writing stories about my friends from 1st grade until graduating high school. It’s crazy to look back on the work I produced in class compared to what I’ve done professionally. Sadly I’m not even half as prolific.

Yours is a novel concept: pop culture characters acting emo. I love it! And there’s such great humor in your pieces. How’d you arrive at the idea?

Thanks, the idea started simply with an existential crisis. I was feeling really sad and depressed about the way of the world is so I was inspired to paint sad things to cope. I began with really dark portraits of commercial mascots like Ronald McDonald and Tony the Tiger. They had this look of exhaustion and pessimism for their career and existence in general. I called the series Commercial Fatigue and while they did do well in the gallery scene, they scared everyone else. One of my favorite styles is chibi, the Japanese cute big headed look and it’s much easier for me to paint so I switched over to that aesthetic while keeping the same tone of depression. My first character was based on batman and the fact that his parents are dead. From there I realized just how much sadness comic characters had and painted up a total of 12 different heroes over the weekend. I called them the SuperEmoFriends and all my friends wanted them. It was like high school all over again. I made prints of them available online and they instantly went viral. Now, nearly 8 years later I’m up 200 SuperEmoFriends with more to come. It’s weird right? I was just sad!

What other artists inspire you or are you a fan of?

The Sunday funnies were probably the most inspiring place for me. As a kid I would redraw Garfield comics with my own characters and eventually created my own jokes and situational comedies. In high school I was all about manga and kawaii culture. The SuperEmoFriends are directly inspired by Nendoroid anime toys and of course Hello Kitty. I also have heroes like Ron English, Josh Keyes and Hieronymus Bosch that have more to say about the state of the world with amazing visuals.

How long have you been doing comic/pop culture conventions? And how many do you typically do a year?

I had been into comic conventions and toy collecting throughout high school but once I entered my 20’s I decided it was time to grow up and stop buying action figures. Once my art went viral I started getting invites to share tables at comic conventions with my nerdy artist friends. I brought SuperEmoFriends along and surprisingly, they sold out every time. I figured it would be wise to put more energy into them and picked up my first solo table for Wondercon 2013. I sold out on day 1 and realized I should probably sign up for more cons. Now I try to do two a month but I need to be careful not to over saturate the scene. It’s just funny to me how I tried to walk away from the nerdy life, only to be pulled back in and rewarded.

What’s the best, worst or weirdest experience you’ve had at a con?

Well, the worst/weirdest happened in Phoenix this year when some guy went mental and brought real weapons to the con. This created much drama but the best experience I have is when people see the emo friends for the first time and love them so much they bring all their friends back to see them and this ‘going viral’ happens right before my eyes. I’m usually at my table the entirety of the show so I don’t have much chance to experience anything else.

Have you ever met any of the celebrities whose characters you’ve drawn? If so, will you tell us about that and what your favorite encounter was?

I have! Well, in most cases, the celebrity meets their emo friend because collectors ask them to sign them. Stranger Things’ Eleven, Barb, Breakfast Club’s Anthony Michael Hall, Games of Thrones’ Joffery, Peggy Carter herself, Chris Evans, Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, Lou Ferrigno even Freddy Kruger have all signed a SuperEmoFriend of their selves. I think my favorite run in is with Lionel Ritchie, I have a SuperEmo version of him from his Hello video. He retweeted and instagramed it. I still cannot believe that happened.

Where can fans find your work and how can they purchase it? Also, do you take commission work?

Is there a medium or project that you’ve yet to tackle, but are dying to do so?

Oh yes, I definitely need to complete my book with a collection of all the SuperEmoFriends!

Lastly, we at Talk Nerdy With Us celebrate all things geek, as a con-goer you’ve certainly witnessed fandom up close and personal. What do you nerd out about?

Well, honestly, the nerd culture has exploded so much since I’ve started. I came into it with my love of Star Wars and comic books but I can’t even keep up with them anymore. Currently I’m all about Rick & Morty, crude but genius! Cosplay is also one of my favorite things although I don’t have room in my life to participate, I respect all that do. Thanks again for having me! See you at the next show!

Thank you, J. Not only are you an inspiration to others who struggle with depression, but we are SO glad the nerd culture yanked you back in. Cant’ wait for that book!

]]>http://talknerdywithus.com/2017/07/28/74079/feed/074079Exclusive Variant Covers Coming to SDCC 2017http://talknerdywithus.com/2017/07/08/exclusive-variant-covers-coming-to-sdcc-2017/
http://talknerdywithus.com/2017/07/08/exclusive-variant-covers-coming-to-sdcc-2017/#respondSun, 09 Jul 2017 00:27:56 +0000http://talknerdywithus.com/?p=73831Headed to San Diego Comic Con this month? Be sure to grab your own SAGA Ghus Plush Doll. The convention exclusive has three costumes! Only 500 pieces will be at the con for $40.
SAGA Ghus – SDCC Exclusive

Also coming to SDCC – exclusive variant covers from popular Skybound Entertainment comics, including “The Walking Dead.” Check these out!

This special SDCC exclusive set comes collected in a “TOP SECRET” package and features 6 double-sized issues, reprinting the entire “All Out War” story arc (issues 115-126). Each double-sized issue features the members of “Shiva Force” (Rick, Michonne, Jesus, Ezekiel and Shiva) as painted by Jason Edmiston. The 6th issues of the set features “Lucille Patrol” leader, Negan. Each set is $50. Limited to 1000 sets.

Project Heal is a not-for-profit national organization which provides funds for people suffering from eating disorders to get treatment. Their mission statement reads:

We provide grant funding for people with eating disorders
who cannot afford treatment, promote healthy body image
and self-esteem, and serve as a testament that
full recovery from an eating disorder is possible.

Jenna Rose Simon is an artist who has made news with her drawings of verbal abuse and low self-esteem, among other things. She has teamed with Lilly Ketchman of Dance Moms fame and her mother, Stacey, to create a dance bag; the profits from those sales will be donated to Project Heal. Jenna, Lilly and Stacey were kind enough to answer our questions about the charity dance bag as well as their involvement with Project Heal for this article.

Jenna:

How did you meet Lilly and her mom, Stacey?

I met Stacey and Lilly via Instagram, though we have just met formally face-to-face in the last week! I had drawn Lilly a bunch of times, and Stacey reached out to me to see if we could collaborate on something to support the eating disorder population.

When/how did you discover that there was an opportunity to bring awareness to Project Heal, while also generating donations to their cause?

Stacey and I were trying to figure out a way to raise money for eating disorders, and my therapist told me that Project Heal is one of the best charities out there. I did an interview with them earlier this year about my art, so I asked Stacey if we could create a product and donate the sales to Project Heal. We tried to come up with something uplifting and also something that Lilly’s followers might enjoy. A bag that they could keep their dance stuff in seemed to be a good fit.

What about Project Heal’s mission do each of you identify with the most?

Project Heal is the only organization that puts donation money directly into the hands of those struggling with eating disorders. Insurance only covers so much and many patients don’t get the care or duration of care they need for this reason. Project Heal allows patients to apply for money towards their treatment costs if they cannot afford it. To me, this is a huge thing. It aids in helping those that want help but simply can’t afford it.

How long did it take you to create the artwork (which is gorgeous) for the bag? Am I correct in assuming that the figure on the bag is Lilly?

Yes! The figure on the bag is little miss Lilly herself. It took me about 2 hours to do the drawing, and an hour or so to add the writing and format the bag properly in my store.

What percentage of the profit of each bag sold will be donated to the organization?

My store sets the pricing for all products created, since I work with the artist network at society6. The company keeps the upfront costs to make the products sold on that website, and I typically get 1/5 or so of the sale price in return. I am donating 100% of what society6 gives me in profits from the sales of this bag to Project Heal.

Do you have other ideas/promotions planned to continue your support of Project Heal?

We do have at least one more product in the works

What do you personally hope to achieve by helping Project Heal meet their goals?

It’s just important to me as an eating disorder survivor to help those who need help. I was lucky that I had good insurance and a family that could help cover my treatment costs, but not every patient is as lucky. Treatment truly is hard enough by itself… I don’t believe it’s fair for money to ever be an obstacle!

Lilly:

How long have you studied dance? What is your favorite discipline?

I have been dancing since I was 2 years old, so it’s already been 7 years! I really love all types of dance and my favorite seems to always be changing. I love ballet and it teaches me proper technique which I use in all dance genres. I also love hip hop, which is the exact opposite. It’s so fun! I love that it is edgy, fierce, and that it shows confidence!

What made you want to team up with Jenna in order to do something to help Project Heal raise funds?

My mom came up with the idea when she saw Jenna’s amazing art. Jenna has experience with trauma and eating disorders and my mom is a psychologist and used to work with patients with eating disorders. I am a dancer and eating disorders are pretty common in dancers so it seemed like we were a good team for this cause. We have been trying to think of a way to use my Instagram to help others and teaming up with Jenna seemed like the perfect way to do that.

What do you think of the drawing Jenna did for the dance bag?

Jenna’s art is always amazing! I am in love with that drawing…especially because I can barely draw a stick figure! Her talent is unbelievable.

Have you/do you know (no names please) any girls – dancers or not – who may be struggling with an eating problem? Is it difficult for you to see? How does your mom help you? Is there anything you’d like to say to people who have an eating disorder?

I don’t know if anyone I know has an actual eating disorder, but I do notice that a lot of girls talk about being “fat” or “hating” their bodies. It makes me really sad because my mom has told me about how a lot of dancers’ struggle with body image. Sometimes I catch myself thinking the same thing, especially when you are comparing yourself to others in dance class. My mom helps by reminding me to eat healthy, but not to focus too much on what I look like. Dancers have all different body types now. I would like to tell everyone that everyone is different and there isn’t one perfect way to be. Try not to compare your body to others because what is healthy for one person might be different than for someone else. No matter what you look like, you can be an amazing dancer.

What do you think is the most important or most immediate thing Project Heal needs help to accomplish?

We are trying to raise money for people with eating disorders who can’t afford treatment, but even if we don’t raise a ton of money, we hope to raise awareness especially with dancers. I want to get the message out that there are all different body types for dancers, and they are all amazing!

Stacey Ketchman (Lilly’s mom and a psychologist):

I understand that you are a psychologist who has worked with patients who have eating disorders. How long have you worked in that area? Is there a segment of our population that is more vulnerable to developing these issues?

While I was in graduate school, I had specialized training in eating disorders. As a result of this training, I was able to take on patients with eating disordered behaviors or thoughts throughout my career. As a former dancer, I have a special interest in the area, as dancers are more prone to eating disorders than the overall population. Research on incidence varies, but on average, the incidence of eating disorders in the white middle-class population is about one in a hundred. However, the incidence in ballet dancers is one in five…a dramatically higher number. When you think about it, it makes sense. In dance, especially ballet, you wear tight fitting clothing and spend countless hours staring at yourself in a full-length mirror. This, along with the presumption that a ballet dancer should be extremely thin, places these dancers at a much higher risk of developing an eating disorder.

How much does our society’s views on women and femininity feed into disordered eating issues?

Think of it this way. If we, or worse, our children, get information about what the ideal female body form is from TV, magazines, or movies we may mistakenly believe that the 5’10” and 120lbs. fashion model is “perfect.” In reality, this would be considered underweight by medical professionals. Despite this, many young girls and women may strive for this unrealistic and unhealthy goal, even resorting to restricting their diet, over-exercising, inappropriate use of laxatives, and/or purging, placing them at high risk for dangerous eating disorders.

What can parents do to help mitigate the mixed signals that young people receive regarding appearance? Additionally, what (if any) are the signs that could alert a parent(s) to the start of an eating disorder?

It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that their children understand that images on magazine covers, for example, are not realistic. In fact, even high-end fashion models with professional hair, make-up, and styling are often highly manipulated and augmented in the photo editing process. You can’t trust what you are seeing these days! I think that it’s important for parents to be on the lookout for warning signs of eating disordered behaviors. These include such things as skipping meals, repeatedly saying they “already ate,” visiting the bathroom following meals (possible purging), excessive weight loss, preoccupation with weight, calories, or fat grams, frequent comments about being “fat,” development of food rituals (e.g. chewing a specific number of times, eating food in certain order, etc.), wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss, and social withdrawal. If you are unsure, it is always best to consult a medical professional.

How can a parent initiate a conversation about disordered eating with their children? Are there any key words or phrases that they should avoid?

There is no perfect way to approach a child about eating disordered behaviors. In general, it is best to be open, honest, and specific when talking to your child about a possible eating disorder. While speaking to them, remember that eating disorders are less about “food” and more about emotional well-being and control. Be prepared for your child to engage in denial, silence, emotional outbursts, all of which are possible reactions. Avoid being accusatory or asking them “to just stop,” and instead, show understanding. Lastly, don’t forget that listening is as important as speaking.

As her mom, how are you helping Lilly to stay self-confident?

I do my best to model a healthy body image. Children listen to what parents say about their own bodies. However, we all fall victim to negative comments about ourselves. I use this as an opportunity to teach her that we all struggle with body image at times and that it is okay, as long as it doesn’t take over or dictate our lives. Sometimes Lilly makes negative comments about her body, such as “I can never be a dancer, I’m too short and not skinny enough.” I respond by empathizing with her and pointing out that we all have thoughts like this sometimes, while at the same time, I convey to her that these thoughts have never gotten in the way of who I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. Leading by example is always the best way to positively influence your child.

What are you hoping to help Project Heal achieve?

We are hoping to raise money for individuals diagnosed with eating disorders who are unable to afford treatment. Additionally, by utilizing Lilly’s platform on social media, we are also hoping to raise awareness to a targeted audience susceptible to eating disorders.

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Thank you all very much for your time. It is clear that these women are as passionate about helping others heal as they are about their art. Please take a minute or two to click on the link to the dance bag in Jenna’s store. As she stated 100% of the profit from the sales of this bag will go to Project Heal. This is your opportunity to reach out to women and girls everywhere who have been afflicted with eating disorders.

For updates and additional information, you can follow Jenna and Project Heal on Twitter at:Jenna Rose Simon

Denver Comic Con is a three day weekend of geektastic glory. In this, its fifth year, the popculture comic convention had a record-breaking 115k attendees, a slight increase over last year’s 114,500. The minimal growth is actually a relief to coordinators who can’t imagine handling any more gargantuan gains like they saw in the first four years.

Proceeds from DCC go toward the Pop Culture Classroom, a Colorado-based charitable organization that gives educators “fresh, innovative materials and training” to use pop culture as inspiration in the classroom.

This year’s Denver Comic Con ran into a number of challenges, first being a slate of guest cancellations. While it’s common for guests in the entertainment business to cancel a con appearance due to last minute conflicts— like this year’s 3 Gotham actors who were called back early for filming— this year’s coordinators ran into a virtual revolving door of announced guests who suddenly bowed out. Like the pros they are, staff scrambled behind the scenes to acquire equitable replacements and largely succeeded.

The second hiccup was a backwards floor plan due to another event in the Colorado Convention Center at the same time. For the first time everything was moved to the back of the building, which made for some confusion and forced attendees to walk a long distance to the entrance. Why the convention center doesn’t give full access to the con and allow them to keep the same annual weekend in June is beyond me, but it would make things infinitely easier for all involved. Considering the money and exposure DCC gives the convention center, not to mention the large boost to our overall economy, you’d think it’s a reasonable concession for executives to make.

To some, the added bag check and stricter cosplay weapon restrictions might be considered a gaffe, but considering the mass shooting that was staved off at this year’s Phoenix Comic Con I’d say it was a minor inconvenience for the betterment of the guests. Staff also provided earlier admittance to allow for the slower lines, along with fair warning and guidelines beforehand to attendees on the DCC website and social media platforms.

Slight snafu’s aside, I deem the con a great success as DCC’s exceptional staff & volunteers met each challenge head on. In truth, no con is ever without challenges. And yes, things can always be improved upon. Just remember Denver Comic Con is a virtual toddler compared to its predecessors and yet it’s now the third largest con of its kind in North America, with only New York and San Diego outnumbering it. Strangely though, DCC is still seemingly off a lot of people’s radar…including the heavy weights of Hollywood.

Still DCC managed to get Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day, a reunion of Buffy’s villains, Orange is the New Black’s Kate Mulgrew, Weird Al Yancovic, Dr. Who’s Catherine Tate, Stranger Things Gaten Matarazzo , Caleb McLaughlin and Millie Bobby Brown, Heroes’ Greg Grunberg, John Cusack (though he did no panels), The Walking Dead’s Khary Payton, a reunion of the animated Justice League actors and much more. Not to mention the slew of comic book and animation creators, publishers and authors, including famed Outlander writer Diana Gabaldon.

Next year’s con will take place June 15-17, 2018 and you’re invited to the Mile Hi City to experience fandom at its finest.

For more pictures, check out our TalkNerdyWithUs Instagram. And click here to read a recap of main event panels on Day 1 with Khary Payton, Weird Al Yankovic, Gaten Matarazzo & Caleb McLoughlin and Day 2 panels with Nathan Fillion, Kate Mulgrew, Millie Bobby Brown and Felicia Day.

Also watch for upcoming, exclusive interviews with Greg Grunberg and Maria Canals Barerra. Greg discusses upcoming projects, his son’s epilepsy, and weed and whiskey, while Maria Canals Barerra talks about portraying Hawkgirl and the possibility of a Wizards of Waverly Place reunion show.